The good thing about the internet is that it allows readers and writers to interact

[rolanni]

A couple days ago janni posted a wise and reasonable opinion on the value of readers having space to talk candidly about books with other readers, without being afraid that the writer will be looking over their shoulder.

I agree with much, and possibly all, of this post. One of the things I miss is being able to talk candidly about books here in my own blog. Alas, experience has shown that I hurt the feelings of people I know when I do that, so I don't. Readers who don't know A Lot of science fiction and fantasy writers, but who read a lot of books of which they have opinions, shouldn't have that problem, particularly.

We all know not to respond to nasty reviews -- even those which are gratuitously and specifically mean to the author -- because that's 'way more trouble than anyone wants.

But.

What about the folks who make the. . .effort, I suppose it is, to write an email to a particular author specifically to complain about an aspect of the writer's work? I'm not, note, talking about readers who want to know What Happens Next (though, really, I'm not going to tell you in an email; that's what books are for) or who have questions about plot, world building or character. All of those communications express interest and involvement in our work -- and that's a Good Thing in my view.

What I'm talking about are the folks who write to say that they find the fact that Priscilla goes topless in the privacy of her own home offensive. Or need to share that they dislike Miri because she has bad grammar. Or who are compelled to say that their least favorite books are those dealing with Val Con, because they're so violent. Clearly, these are opinions held by these readers, but am I the reasonable recipient?

My inclination has been to throw away communications like the above, unread. Certainly, an honest response is not appropriate in such cases (see "We all know not to respond to nasty reviews..." above), and it would seem that we have a case of, "If it sounds like a griefer, and disrupts like a griefer, it's a griefer."

Does anybody else get these sorts of emails? How do you deal with them?


Progress on Ghost Ship

5799 / 100000

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I've a special folder for those: The Bit Bucket, a.k.a Trash.

-Eta

[robotech-master.livejournal.com]

You're doing the right thing. If they don't like your work, nobody's forcing them to read it, and they shouldn't let the screen door hit their bums on the way out.

There's no point engaging with them. To paraphrase Proverbs, arguing with someone like that is just a waste of time. As Mark Twain said, "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and annoys the pig."

And as Ricky Nelson said, "you can't please everybody so you've got to please yourself."

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Well, I had an opinion about the last Bujold book, and Lois asked me to give it. I told her that I did not want to make her unhappy inasmuch as I adored just about everything she had done. She insisted. I stated my reservation as gently as I could, and I hope that it did not sting. She was not unhappy looking and responded to my statement with the notion that she could see what I had wanted in a transition book. But I still had reservations about making a statement that was at all negative.

Writers try hard to put something out there that has rightness. It seems like a waste of time to give them grief over what they do.

[(Anonymous)]

View it as success. You managed to make your world real enough for them to be offended by it. Yes, these are some of your best-developed characters; that doesn't mean that they would be universally beloved in any 'verse. Arguably, the reverse is true - the better-developed characters are more likely to inspire strong opinions in the reader.

I wonder if Kareen holds similar opinions? Of course, she'd be too polite to email you about them...

[robotech-master.livejournal.com]

Unless, of course, she felt she would be remiss in her duty to Clan and Code if she failed to correct the Error Of Your Ways.

Certainly politeness hasn't ever kept her from sticking her nose in where she felt it belonged, regardless of whether it was wanted, in the past. :)

[(Anonymous)]

I would agree that you should view it as a success of your ability to communicate. One of the reasons I like SF is that it pushes the readers to look beyond their own "box" and broaden their person comfort zone. To accept - or not accept - that "different" does not innately mean evil, or even good (ala Theo chastising by 'Shortwing"), just different. We readers vary greatly in our ability or willingness to engage our acceptance of disbelief.

How or if to respond would depend on how you perceive the commentary.

Brom

re:internet interaction

[jeloise.livejournal.com]

In the ticketing world, we use a fairly standard reply of, "Thank you for your concerns/objections/feedback. Your comments have been forwarded to the producer of {insert event here}." Sometimes we upgrade to "as with all performances, the experience is an individually subjective one..."
Rarely have I dealt with any continuous conversation beyond this, unless the patron is demanding a refund (which, once you've gone and seen the event and then complain 3 days later, never happens).
Perhaps a politely worded form letter to acknowledge that their opinion/worldview is real for them but they are reading a work of fiction which will invariable not exactly match the Way They See Things (IMHO this is a good thing to challenge my worldview to see if it holds up). If they continue the conversation, recommend a public librarian to assist them in finding "literature" that suits them. (yep, I do this too!).
Best of luck. I always look forward to what you two write!

[(Anonymous)]

One of the things I miss is being able to talk candidly about books here in my own blog.

I miss this, too, and am always struggling with finding ways to do so after all -- but I do hold back much of the time.

I haven't had many people write to tell me what they don't like about my stories (they tend to blog that instead :-)), but depending on the tone, I could see responding to say that I'm sorry the book didn't work for them, but thanks for sharing their thoughts -- I don't know that I'd always do this, but I wouldn't rule it out, either.

Blog posts, however, I figure I'm not (usually) part of the conversation and the best thing I can do is let it happen without me. :-)

[janni.livejournal.com]

Oops--that was me, not logged in!

[pedanther]

Not a published writer myself, but I am minded of a friend, who always begins replies to reader feedback by saying "Thank you for reading", before going on to address the substance of message as appropriate. In cases like those you describe, the words "Thank you for reading" constitute the whole of his reply.

[seekergeek.livejournal.com]

I am a mere fanfic writer, but I have also received some of that. My standard response (if I bother to reply at all) is "Thank you for reading. I'm sorry that it did not work for you. Best of luck finding something that better suits your tastes." But normally I don't bother. I'd rather reserve my spoons for better things.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

I roll my eyes in their general direction.

expressing an opinion

[(Anonymous)]

Isn't it lucky that we live in a country that if we don't like what somebody writes we don't have to: 1. Read it 2. Buy it.

Now those of us who enjoy the people that live in the Liaden Universe, we that read the books, buy the books and can't wait for more of them, should be aware that we are not the authors and appreciate the fact that the authors are writing to create something that they enjoy, and hope that we will enjoy as well. I think that there must be pride in there somewhere as well.

People who take cheap shots at their efforts should maybe read other books.

Re: expressing an opinion

[janni.livejournal.com]

But sometimes they're not cheap shots.

I don't mean Liaden in particular, but books in general ... sometimes a reader dislikes a book, and has thought hard about it, and wants to share her thoughts. IMHO, they not only have the right to do that, but it's good for not only readers but books and writers when they do.

If the price of that is looking the other way so the cheap shots can get through, too ... that seems a reasonable price to pay. (Besides, readers have the right to take cheap shots at books, too, when it comes down to it.)

Point proven

[(Anonymous)]

On the whole I think Robotech Master has the correct response.

Ignore, if you wish, too much interference from your fans and continue doing what you do so well.

[msagara.livejournal.com]

Does anybody else get these sorts of emails? How do you deal with them?

I generally thank them for taking the time to try one of my books, and express my disappointment that the book didn't work for them because of this flaw, because I try (and sometimes it is bloody hard) to look at the email as a form of engagement in which they don't mention the things they -liked- because they didn't have issues with those.

And sometimes people point out flat out mistakes (continuity) in my books, and those make me weep in embarrassment. I will also often grovel, because I do consider that a failing on my part.

But if someone wrote a "this is the worst book I have ever had the misfortune to read" email, I'd probably go with the "I'm very grateful that you did try one of my novels; I'm so sorry to hear that it wasn't what you were looking for" approach. I worry less about them because, well, it's unlikely that they're going to be a future part of my audience, and I'm unlikely to do anything -else- that's going to drive them away.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I found a very odd thing. In 1952 My Weekly Reader had an article about a pet lending library that had rabbits, foxes, and other animals you could borrow for a week. No norbears, though.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is cool. Even though I'm not sure I'd want to "borrow" a fox.

My younger sister's elementary school classes had an expectation that the children would take turns hosting the class rodent-or-lizard on weekends. That would've been a lot cooler if we hadn't already been well supplied with rodents-and-lizards of our own.